A couple in their 60's, a 1940's army building turned into a 3 bedroom cottage, 2.5 acres, vegetable and herbal gardens, goats, chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, Great Pyrenees, rescue dogs and cats, living as simple and frugal as possible. That is what you will find written about here. Thank you for stopping by. Share anything you like and ask any questions you wish!

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Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Because I think I have the most awesome blog neighbors I wanted to share
some with you. Each Wednesday I will post one of my blog neighbors and
hope you will drop by their blog for a visit. You don't have to follow
them or even leave a comment (though that would be nice). Just stop by
and check them out. Who knows you might like them so much they become
your neighbor too!

Today I want to introduce: A Life on Dreams and Prayers. I just love reading about this country cowgirl! She is a young married lady with a love for God, her husband, and animals. She lives each day to the fullest and always with a smile. I was the lucky winner of a give away she did and boy was I really lucky! One of the gifts was a book named Hope Rising and it is awesome! If you read it have tissues ready. So please stop by and visit my neighbor Country Cowgirl at: A Life on Dreams and Prayers. You are going to love this young lady's blog!

Sunday, September 23, 2012

I always thought I was born 100 years too late. As a little girl I would dream of doing homework by the light from a oil lamp while dad sat warming his feet by the fire and mother baking bread in the wood cookstove. I dreamed of using a wash board helping mother scrub clothes and hanging them out on a line to dry. Of going to the well and carrying water to the house and animals. Later in life I dreamed of doing all these things as a wife and mom and later still with grandchildren. I guess as you get older you really do get wiser. A light bulb moment happened and I suddenly realized I am actually living my dream but with added bonuses. We have over a dozen oil lamps around the house. I enjoy winter nights with some of them lighting up our home in a warm cozy glow. I love sitting and reading by the light from my favorite oil lamp.

We heat our home with a wood stove. Coming in from the cold and feeling the warmth from the stove and the wonderful smell of the different woods burning is a dream come true. I also love keeping the tea kettle simmering on top of the stove for cups of tea whenever the urge arrives. We haven't set up our wood cookstove yet but keeping a pot of homemade soup or pinto beans cooking on the back of the wood stove all day makes for some very, very, good meals. I am blessed with washtubs, wooden scrub board, and a hand crank wringer

. I can do laundry anytime I wish this way and hang them out on the lines to dry. I have the best of both worlds. I can choose to do things the simple hard way of my ancestors which I really do enjoy or I can do the easy, fast way by flipping a light switch, turning on the electric stove, throwing clothes in my nice front loader washer before tossing them in the dryer. I can watch a movie, enjoy the computer, take a nice hot shower, flush the toilet and still have mostly the simple hardworking life I dreamed. I wasn't born 100 years too late. I was born at the right time for me. A time where I can have the best of both worlds. I am truly blessed!

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Because I think I have the most awesome blog neighbors I wanted to share some with you. Each Wednesday I will post one of my blog neighbors and hope you will drop by their blog for a visit. You don't have to follow them or even leave a comment (though that would be nice). Just stop by and check them out. Who knows you might like them so much they become your neighbor too! My wonderful blog neighbor today is Kelly from Mainely Ewes Farm .

I drool a lot each time I visit her blog. Not only does she have the beautiful farm home I love, she lives in Maine and gets lots of snow, she has the wood cookstove I dream about. She is a nurse that works long hours and still find times to do so much at her farm. She has sheep she shears and then spins their fleece. She does all kind of crafts as well as being a awesome cook. This lady is what I want to be like if I ever grow up! She and Ted have remodeled most of the farm house on their own and man is it really beautiful. I love her goat stories, her sheep photos, and love reading what the dogs have been up to. Mainely Ewes Farm is my ideal dream farm. Stop by and pay a visit. Check out some of the older posts and see some of the remodeling as well as a little bit of her daily life on the farm. Get comfortable and grab a drink because you are gonna want to sit a spell while you meet and catch up with Kelly.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Had a major headache for 3 days but think I gave it myself while getting soaps ready for Craft Fair Saturday.
Think smelling all the different scents while bagging soaps was my downfall.

The Craft Fair, Farm Tractor Demonstration, Flock Swap was a big hit. Our Tractor Supply always has such awesome things each month to take part in. I sold lots of soaps, laundry detergent,lip balms, jams/jellies, herbal teas, and my cream cheese filled pumpkin muffins were a big hit! We also sold Bonnie and Clyde (a pair of our geese) Rocky, Porky, and Prissy (our New Zeland meat rabbits), and Farley (one of Buttons bucklings) as well as 4 roosters. The lady that bought the roosters wants more every week which will really help bring our rooster population down along with the feed bill. The other animals sold each went to loving homes and won't be eaten.

We found a really good deal on hay so traveled to Cameron after the craft fair to bring home 45 bales. The goats were very happy with the hay and we are very happy with the price.

Got such a sweet phone call! Megan called and put the phone to Skyler's ear and let me talk to him. He goo'd and goo'd while I talked like he was talking back. Megan said he also kept turning to look at the phone like he was trying to see me. LOL

I love and miss my snuggle buddy. Grandson Quintin had his birthday party last night. From what I hear it was the perfect 15 bash with music and dancing.

Had a hen show up from the field with 2 baby chicks. Found her nest right out in the open so surprised she even hatched 2 eggs with all the rain we have had. The other 6 eggs didn't hatch and William tried putting them under a light. They didn't hatch but my love seat has a burnt spot (another post in itself LOL)

A new friend William made at the flock swap gave him a LOT of hot peppers, sweet peppers, and eggplant so I will be doing something with them tomorrow. The guy and his family are organic and really was nice meeting and talking with them. Also chatted for a while with a lady that has more goats than me and even bought 4 keets from her. (Yes Mike, 4 more birds).

I won a give away from a country cowgirl which I will write more about her blog on one of my Wednesday's Wonderful Blog Neighbor post. She sent me a beautiful necklace and earring set, a book on true stories of horses and humans. Already got me in tears but is a beautiful book. A screen frame that I absolutely love! She is a sweet young lady and I thank her very much!

Have been trying not to post too much about the election on facebook though it has been hard. I hate when one side writes how bad or stupid the other side is doing or saying things but when their side does some of the same things or worse they say nothing but good things. Our country is is deep trouble no matter who wins. We need to stop blaming, calling names and make America united once again. No one side or person can do this... it takes ALL of us regular Americans to take our country back and stop letting the people we elected do what they want. They work for us!!! Okay enough of the lil tidbits floating around in my mind. Time to get back to things I can handle and finish the laundry!

Because I think I have the most awesome blog neighbors I wanted to share some with you. Each Wednesday I will post one of my blog neighbors and hope you will drop by their blog for a visit. You don't have to follow them or even leave a comment (though that would be nice). Just stop by and check them out. Who knows you might like them so much they become your neighbor too!

Now you know I am doing some major drooling over not only her house but that wonderful snow!

Today I would like for you to visit Hickery Holler Farm Just when I think I have done enough she goes and post a little something she done in her spare time. Recipes, quilts, gardening, you name it this lady can do it in a blink of an eye. If I even think I am a great homesteader my blog neighbors make me realize I have a long way to go. She is from the south with hubby from the north, they moved to the midwest on a 72 acre farm. Her posts always leave me wanting to do more here on our tiny little homestead. Even if you don't garden or quilt you will enjoy visiting her blog. Reading her posts are like you are right there with her while she talks you through what she is doing. Now take a break and go visit Hickery Holler Farm.... you won't be disappointed!

Happy Birthday to one of the kindest, smartest, most sensitive, loving, understanding young man I have the honor of knowing and calling my grandson. Quintin, the world is yours. You can do or be anything you set your mind and heart to. I know having September the 11th as your birthday saddens you but I hope your day turns out to be as awesome as you are to me. I love you Q!

Times are hard or getting hard for everyone. Grocery store prices are soaring. Those of us with animals hold our breath when we go buy animal feed. Each time we go its up another dollar or more. It is time to start being frugal if you aren't already. If you are its time to squeeze those pennies a little harder. Things are going to get a lot worse before or even if they get better. Sharing a link I think will bring it home much better than I. Will share part two when she posts. You really should take time to read. Consider it food for thought. Double Nickel Farm: Before President Obama Part 1

Friday, September 7, 2012

It's like I am running around with my head in a bucket. I can't seem to get things done around here. I admit I have been staying up to watch both Republican and Democrat conventions and that has me dragging around in the mornings. I get so frustrated at both sides for stretching the truth and out and out lying on some things. I hate the bashing of each other and all the bragging. Will be glad but scared when the election is over. Anyway, enough about politics. Got the fall greenbeans and pepper plants mulched. The goat pens are halfway finished being raked. The stalls, shelters, and houses have fresh bedding. Don't know how long that will last as the dogs were rolling in all the shavings when I left the pens. Tinker is in season so Falcor is on a extended deployment to a friends farm. We do not want any puppies for a long, long, time. Mary, the sheep that was given to us 4 and a half months ago is pregnant. Must of happened before they slaughtered the ram and gave her to us. She looks like she will be birthing any day. I have the boxes of fall decorations out but that is all. They are sitting waiting on me to do something with other than walk around them. Hopefully will get to them this weekend. I did get a cake baked for my dear German friend Gerda. She turned 78 yesterday. My oldest brother Marshall turned 71 on August 30th. I called to wish him a happy birthday and ended up depressed. He is having problems breathing. He keeps his business to himself so when you ask how he is doing he always says fine and wants to know how you are. It was a nice long conversation but he was breathing hard and whispering I had a hard time understanding. I kept it as light as possible and plan on making a trip to the mountains soon so I can visit him. Our conversations always end with; love you lil' sis and I love you too big brother. And I do. Love my big brother so very much. Now I need to see if I can get my head out of the bucket and get some of my to do list done.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Each Wednesday I have decided to share one of my wonderful blog neighbors with you. You don't have to follow them or even leave a comment but I would really like if you would pay them a visit. I think I have some of the most awesome blog neighbors in blog land and am sure you will think so too.

She is a pastor's wife, mom of 9, and lives off grid in a beautiful log home built on top of a mountain. You will be amazed at all she accomplishes with a smile on her face, song in her heart, and her faith in God. Julianne shares wonderful recipes she and her daughters cook on their wood cookstove. She shares books she is reading and most of all she shares words of wisdom on life,family,love, and faith. I think you will really, really, enjoy your visit!

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Today has had me cleaning the animals water containers and adding apple cider vinegar to their fresh water. Doing a little raking in some of the pens and catching up on laundry. It is so quiet here today. My Labor Day weekend had the house full of laughter, talking, and eating. My eldest daughter Maggie with her family came to visit from Tennessee. I LOVED having them here and wish they could have stayed longer. They are planning on coming back next month and maybe even taking Lil Vicki and Harley (the young goats) back home with them. Maggie, Brannon, Kristine, and Raigun were up early every morning to help feed and water the animals. They spent lots of time playing with the goats and petting the bunnies. They did leave the farm for a night to visit my stepson and family on the coast. Kristine had to get a little beach time in!

It was just good having a chance to sit down and catch up on all their news and just enjoy my daughter. I had a very blessed holiday weekend.

The heat of summer is still here along with the humidity. Only a few minutes outside and I am dripping wet. William said he was not going to complain this winter no matter how cold it got after the heat we have had this summer. I am just hoping we have a winter. Didn't have much of one last year. As I was feeding the animals yesterday afternoon I said a little prayer asking for fall to please show up soon. When I came inside and was watching the news, the weatherman showed the temps for next week. Seems we are going to get a major cold front from Canada which will bring us temps in the 70's during the day and low 60's and even high 50's F at night. I think I can suffer through the rest of the week with a taste of fall to look forward to soon. The fall garden is coming along nicely. Green beans are growing so fast! Already have peppers on the bell pepper plants. Broccoli and other plants are starting to take off. Planning on having lots to harvest. We shall see.

Time to go rake more chicken pens and give fresh straw in the nesting boxes. Have a very blessed day!